Cable-laying plow



Jan. 3, 1967 D. J. KILLOREN CABLELAYING PLOW C5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed' Sept. 20, 1965 Jan. 3, 1967 D. J. KILLOREN CABLE-LAYING PLOW ."5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1963 Jan. 3, 1967 D. `.1. KlLLoREN CABLE-LAYING PLOW 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 United States Patent O 3,295,333 CABLE-LAYING PLOW Donald J. Killoren, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Killoren Company, Appleton, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 310,234 3 Claims. (Cl. S1-72.6)

This invention relates to a cable-laying plow, and, more particularly, to a relative simple and portable tool adapted to provide a deep narrow slit useful, in one aspect of the invention, for accommodating communication and power cable used in household installation.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel cable and tube-laying plow. Another object is to provide a plow structure adapted t-o be pulled by a cable-carrying truck, or the like, and wherein the plow structure incorporates means both facilitating the towing thereof and for partially closing the furrow necessarily developed by the plow. Still another object is to provide a plow structure adapted to be pulled by a winch cable attached to a vehicle, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable plow-like tool having a minimum of moving parts which results in a sturdy and simple apparatus useful in minor cable-laying jobs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

` The invention is explained in conjunction with the ac-l companying drawing, which features an illustrative embodiment, and in which- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an exemplary environment embodying the inventive tool;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the tool seen in FIG. l and with a porti-on of the cable being laid shown in its operative position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view such as would be seen along the sight -line 4-4 applied to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the sight line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the sight line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end view such as would be seen along the sight line 7-7 applied to FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the shoe portion connected to the rear of the depending plow element as is best seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the shoe seen in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective elevational view of the inventive tool in its alternative transporting condition; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of plow.

In the illustration given, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numeral designates generally the inventive cable-laying plow or tool, which is seen to be equipped with a depending plate-like plow element 21 (compare FIG. 6) positioned for movement below the surface of the ground 22. The plow is advantageously advanced through a towing vehicle in the form of a cable-carrying truck 23 equipped with a cable reel 24. The cable 25 passes over the guide handle 26 and down through a guide shoe 27 to a position which may be at about 18 inches below the level of the ground 22. Also seen in FIG. 1 is a communications and power serviceman 28 seen connecting the end of the cable to a suitable junction box provided on a home structure 29.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the plow 20 3,295,333y Patented Jan. 3, 1967 riceI includes an elongated tubular frame 30 equipped at its forward end with a hitch 31 adapted to receive the tow line 32 designated only in FIG. l.

The tubular frame 30 at its extreme rear end (see FIG. 2) is equipped with transverse axle means 33 which rotatably supports four wheels 34-37. Wheels 35 and 36 can be considered the inboard pair and serve to partially close the furrow developed by the plow element 21. The outboard pair of wheels, including wheels 34 and 37, stabilize the plow either in the earth-digging position indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or in the alternative transport condition illustrated in FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIG. 10, it is seen that the plow element 21 is disposed upwardly, with the handle 26 removed, so that the plow 20 can be readily pulled by a repairman 28 with the weight being carried on the wheels 34, etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, it is seen that the tubular frame 30 is equipped with rearwardly-extending, divergent channels 38 (designated only in FIG. 3) which, along with bearing brackets 39, support the sleeve bearings 40. Rotatably mounted within each sleeve bearing 40 is an axle 41 on which the wheels 34-37 are mounted.

Positioned between the wheels 35 and 36 is the guide shoe 27 in which the cable 25 slides during the cablelaying operation. The shoe 27 is best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 and is seen to include an elongated box-like housing having a removable rear wall as at 42. This permits removal of the cable without cutting if for any reason this is required bef-ore the cable-laying operation is completed. The shoe 27 terminates in a lower rounded portion as at 43 suitably stiffened by a fillet or gusset as at 44.

The forward edge or side of the shoe 27 is equipped with a pair of integral tubes 45 which receive a pintle rod 46 hingedly connecting the shoe 27 to the plow element 21. For this purpose, the plow element 21l is equipped with rearwardly-disposed intertting hinge portions 47 (see FIG. 4).

The plow element 21 is seen to be equipped with a sharpened forwardly-extending foot part 48 (see FIG. 4) and along its forward edge above the foot part 48 with a sharpened edges as at 49.

Cooperating with the plow 21 in cutting a furrow is a removably mounted cutting blade 50 (again see FIG. 4). The removable feature of the cutting blade 50 is provided through a transverse bolt 51 passing through suitable openings 52 in the tubular frame 30. The frame 30, as seen in FIG. 4, is equipped with a bottom opening as at 53 for the receipt of the upwardly-extending wing portion 54 of the blade 50, whereby the shoulder portion 55 coacts with the bottom surface of the frame 30 in stabilizing the cutting blade 50.

The upper surface of the frame 30, when the plow is in earth-digging position, provides a socket or handle mount as at 56 (see FIG. 4) for the receipt of the rod-like handle 26.

The handle 26, as seen in FIG. 7, is equipped with a transverse bar 57 at its upper end, the bar itself being equipped with enlargements or end flanges as at 58 serving to confine the lateral movement of the cable 25 during laying of the same.

Through the use of the invention, a telephone cable, for example, is efficiently laid in a narrow slit at a depth of the order of 18 inches. No manual direction or pressure is required, and, moreover, the tool substantially closes the slit as the plow moves. Further, because of the light weight and wheel arrangement, no wheel or cleat marks are left on a lawn. In fact, the usual operation results in leaving no scars of any kind except for a thin line which vanishes in a day or so.

The arrangement of the frame, plow and wheels results in the elimination of holding the plow in the ground, nor does the plow require guiding when cable is being laid in a straight, uninterrupted course. The detachable handle 26 is useful in guiding the cable around trees and other obstacles, if necessary. The four wheels 34-37 make one-man transportation of the plow convenient and strain-free.

In the illustration given, the total weight of the entire plow assembly is of the order of 185 pounds, the tubular frame 30 being a four-inch O.D. diameter, seven feet long, three-eighth inch wall thickness steel tube. The only moving parts during ordinary operation are the shoe 27 and the wheels 34-37 which advantageously may be six-inch diameter wheels. All other parts are permanently welded in place except for the handle 26 and the cutting blade 50 which are removably mounted.

In operation, the plow construction allows the plow to seek its own depth with no additional hold-down force. The two inside wheels 35 and 36 compact the soil, and the two outside wheels 34 and 37 stabilize the plow. The cutting blade 50 slices the sod for neat appearance after compaction. The handle 26 is used to stabilize the plow when starting, guide the cable into the shoe 27, and steer or raise the plow when encountering obstacles. This is accomplished by a man pulling sideways on the handle while the plow is moving. The handle is removable for ease in transportation and to allow the plow to go under fences.

The shoe 27 is made to swing, 'which allows the plow to be pulled at a sharp angle without straining the cable. The shoe has a removable back as at 42 so that the cable can be inserted or removed without cutting. The removable back 42 in the illustration given is equipped with a curved lower end portion as at 42a and is removably conned in position by the clip 59 (see FIG. 9) and a removable bolt 60 carried by ears 61 and received through an opening in a clip 62 secured to the rear wall 42.

The plow 120 is of the same design and assembled of the same materials as the plow 20 shown in the preceding views. The plow 120, which drags the cable or tubing 125 underground from behind thereof, does not include the handle 26 nor the cable shoe 27. Instead, a steel ring 163 with a one-inch diameter opening is welded to the back of the plow element 121 with a clearance above the bottom of the plow element. This ring is the attaching point for a clevis or split ring 164 for dragging a cable or tubing by means of a flexible steel pulling grip.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of explanation thereof, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cable laying plow, comprising an elongated tubular frame substantially free of loading superstructure and equipped with a hitch at its front end, a transversely extending axle on the rear end of said frame, a wheel on each side of said frame mounted on said axle and projecting above and below said frame, an elongated plate-like plow element rigidly connected to said frame adjacent to and just forward of said axle and extending downwardly and forwardly relative to said frame when the frame length is disposed generally horizontally, and means on the rear edge of said plow element for training a cable rearwardly of said plow element in a furrow cut by said plow element, said plow element having an integral forwardly extending foot part, said foot part having a thickness about the same as the remainder of said plow element, the ratio of the length of said frame to the depth of said foot part from the path of travel of said wheel being substantially 14:3, said foot part being characterized by an upper edge arranged at an acute angle to the horizontal and with a lower edge characterized by the absence of any n eective to prevent emergence of said foot part.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which four wheels are provided in generally axially aligned relation, the two middle wheels being operative to partially close a furrow cut by said plow element.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein handle means are provided for guiding a cable unrolled from a reel operably associated with said plow, said handle means being equipped with a releasable connection to said frame, whereby said frame may be inverted for transport with said plow element being upwardly disposed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,118,553 5/1938 Garlinger 61-72.6 2,722,181 11/1955 Hash 61-72.6 2,909,134 10/ 1959 Kniefel 61-72.6 3,066,491 12/ 1962 Ryan 61-72.6 3,201,944 8/ 1965 Christensen 61-72.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 674,669 10/ 1929 France.

EARL I. WVITMER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CABLE LAYING PLOW, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF LOADING SUPERSTRUCTURE AND EQUIPPED WITH A HITCH AT ITS FRONT END, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING AXLE ON THE REAR END OF SAID FRAME, A WHEEL ON EACH SIDE OF SAID FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID AXLE AND PROJECTING ABOVE AND BELOW SAID FRAME, AND ELONGATED PLATE-LIKE PLOW ELEMENT RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME ADJACENT TO AND JUST FORWARD OF SAID AXLE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME WHEN THE FRAME LENGTH IS DISPOSED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY, AND MEANS ON THE REAR EDGE OF SAID PLOW ELEMENT FOR TRAINING A CABLE REARWARDLY OF SAID PLOW ELEMENT IN A FURROW CUT BY SAID PLOW ELEMENT, SAID PLOW ELEMENT HAVING AN INTEGRAL FORWARDLY EXTENDING FOOT PART, SAID FOOT PART HAVING A THICKNESS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE REMAINDER OF SAID PLOW ELEMENT, THE RATIO OF THE LENGTH OF SAID FRAME TO THE DEPTH OF SAID FOOT PART FROM THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID WHEEL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY 14:3, SAID FOOT PART BEING CHARACTERIZED BY AN UPPER EDGE ARRANGED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL AND WITH A LOWER EDGE CHARACTERIZED BY THE ABSENCE OF ANY FIN EFFECTIVE TO PREVENT EMERGENCE OF SAID FOOT PART. 